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Samantha Seghers
For Samantha Seghers's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 14, 2022
Planning a trip to Japan? Here are a few key terms you can use at your hotel.
Hotel staff speak an honorific form of Japanese that isn't always the first thing taught to budding language students. However, understanding it can give an insight into the culture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 5, 2022
Trying to cool down without the air conditioning? Look to Kyoto and Brisbane for some ideas.
Temperatures are up and that means a lot of us are trying anything to beat the heat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 15, 2022
Getting to know Japanese castles and picking out your favorites
The warmer weather has arrived and that provides a great opportunity to get out to some of Japan's many historical sites, starting with its castles.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 28, 2022
Fire up a chat about Japanese pottery by increasing your vocabulary
From Arita ware to wave patterns and the technique of crazing, get to know the different types of Japanese pottery through the language.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 10, 2019
The language involved with a gluten-free diet in Japan
Some restaurants in Japan are beginning to offer gluten-free options, but if you want to be certain then it's better to know the words that will help you avoid a dietary disaster.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 19, 2019
Reuniting with old Japanese friends of all different kinds
Whether they're your 'shin'yu016b,' your 'tomodachi' or your 'nakama,' reuniting with Japanese friends is always a blast.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 30, 2019
Sing your way to fluency in Japanese
Some people will tell you to watch TV to improve your Japanese, but the real classroom is a karaoke box.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on